Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. (Photo: EPA-EFE/VNA)Tokyo (VNA) – Japan and Thailand agreed on June 27 to fostercooperation for the accession of Thailand to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-PacificPartnership (CPTPP).
According to theJapanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Konowelcomed Thailand’s interest in joining the CPTPP during the talks with hisThai counterpart Don Pramudwinai. Japan is willing to work with Bangkok in thismatter, he said.
Kono was in Thailandfor the third ministerial of the Conference on Cooperation among East AsianCountries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD).
The two ministersalso discussed bilateral economic cooperation regional security issues,including the Korean peninsula.
The CPTPP is acomprehensive free-trade agreement signed by 11 Asia-Pacific countries in Marchafter the withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership(TPP) after US President Donald Trump took office.
At least six member states are required to ratifythe CPTPP to put it into force. The deal is expectedto create one of the world’s largest free trade blocs with a combined market of499 million people and GDP of around 10.1 trillion USD, accounting for 13.5percent of the global GDP.
The Japanese Diet on June 13 enacted a lawto ratify CPTPP, moving a step closer to complete domestic procedures,according to Kyodo news.
Japan still has to enact a separate billto implement domestic measures in connection with the agreement, such assupport for livestock farmers who will be exposed to competition from foreignrivals.
The country is expected to become the secondnation to ratify the deal after Mexico, which has already completed domesticprocedures.-VNA
VNA
